Volume 27, Number 1

Jan. 16, 2025

Bishop Brown Reflects on His Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

Archbishop Hosam Naoum and Bishop Brown after Mass at St. George’s Cathedral in Jerusalem on the Second Sunday after Christmas. 

Have you ever been in the presence of a member of the clergy and thought to yourself, "Wow, he/she/they is clearly called"?

That's what happened for me during my recent visit with Archbishop Hosam E. Naoum of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem. Whenever he spoke, or whenever he was quiet, I felt the power of God through his remarkable leadership gifts (his way of being) emanating warmth, the sharpest intellect, and loving gratitude.

Read more of the bishop's reflection here.

Jonathan Radtke Ordained to Transitional Diaconate

Congratulations and blessings to the Rev. Jonathan Radtke, who  was ordained to the transitional diaconate on Dec. 12, at Trinity Church in Portland. Radke is also principal at Lewiston High School.

Matt Dunlap Sworn In to Second Term as Maine State Auditor

Matt Dunlap, chair of the Committee on Indian Relations was sworn in as Maine State Auditor by Gov. Janet Mills on Jan. 8. Above: Dunlap with the Rev. Kerry Mansir, rector of Christ Church, Gardiner.

Upcoming Formation Events of Note for 2025

Monthly diocesan formation conversation Zooms continue; please consider joining these drop-in chats for collaboration, connection and inspiration! Held the third Thursday of each month, 10 - 11 a.m., always at this Zoom link.

A confirmation retreat at Barbara C Harris Camp and Conference Center March 21 - 23. This is a retreat being organized by the program director at BCCH, but if Maine folks are interested a group can be organized to attend. Complete an interest form for more information here.

Monthly Godly Play practitioner conversations continue. The dates and times change to meet the needs of the group, so email Godly Play trainer Sally Thomas for more information about being connected.

Be on the lookout for information about a Province-wide Acolyte Festival in March! This will be a one-day opportunity for youth from around Province I to gather in Needham, MA to celebrate the unique ministry of acolytes and to have some fun together. We will enjoy an "acolyte olympics" challenge, share pizza, and participants will leave with an editable customary to share with their home churches.

Diocesan Youth lead Pride Ministry June is Pride Month, and for three years our youth have led us in sharing God's love for and with all people through marching in parades across the diocese. The planning team will meet on Zoom, April 22, May 6, and May 20, 6 - 7 p.m. to learn how to organize a community event, the history of LGBTQ+ ministries in The Episcopal Church and how advocacy for LGBTQ+ people is rooted in our faith. 

Registration for Camp Bishopswood is open! Be sure to check out our wonderful diocesan camp and encourage others to do the same!

Youth pilgrimage to the Citizen's Climate Lobby in Washington, D.C. July 19 - 22. Our youth have asked for opportunities to participate in advocacy from a faith-based perspective, so we will join youth from around the country this summer to learn about climate advocacy, visit Capitol Hill, and connect our baptismal covenants to justice work in the world.

Save the Date for Summer Finale, 2025: Sept. 26-28 at beautiful Camp Bishopswood in Hope. This annual weekend is a chance for households and/or individuals to come enjoy the beauty of camp during the Season of Creation. We spend time playing, praying and building community.

Youth involvement at Diocesan Convention, October: please be in touch if you have youth who would like to participate or learn more about how and why Diocesan Convention works to support the ministry of the Church.

The Welcoming Library can visit your church this year! Sign-ups are ongoing for churches to host the traveling Welcoming Library for a month at a time. Learn more here.

For more information about any of these events, please reach out to Director of Faith Formation Emily Keniston.

How To Help Victims of the Southern California Wildfires



Episcopalians across the country have responded with their prayers and their pocketbooks to the ongoing devastation from the Southern California wildfires, which are now raging for a second week. Along with thousands of homes and businesses, St. Mark's in Altadena is a total loss, and the campus of St. Matthew's in Pacific Palisades is badly damaged. 

And yet, the Diocese of Los Angeles regularly updates its Facebook page with stories of hope and resilience from Bishop John H. Taylor and others. Even from a distance, evidence of God's love is constant through generous donations, people opening their homes to others for shelter, and the continued good work of the church and surrounding communities. Here's how you can help:

• To make financial contributions, give directly to the Diocese of Los Angeles or to Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD), which is on the ground helping to coordinate immediate disaster response and provide ongoing support. Donations can be made to ERD's dedicated Wildfire Response Fund.
• To be a chaplain or to provide professional mental health services through the National Association of Episcopal Schools, volunteer here.

Committed to Listen: Observing Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2025

Monday, Jan. 20, 12 p.m.

Hope GateWay Church

515 Woodford St., Portland

In honor of Martin Luther King Day, an in-person performance of "The Malaga Ship: A Story of Maine and the Middle Passage," by Antonio Rocha is being staged at Hope GateWay Church. Tickets are free but must be reserved in advance because seating is limited. If you are able, please consider making a donation to help cover the cost of this event.

A Service of Prayer for the Nation

Tuesday, Jan. 21, 11 a.m.

Together with its interfaith and ecumenical partners, Washington National Cathedral will host this special service to offer prayers of thanksgiving for our democracy and to seek God’s guidance in the years ahead. Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde will preach, and music will be offered by the Cathedral Choir, the Cathedral Contemporary Ensemble, and special guest musicians as the community gathers to seek healing, unity and wisdom in the months to come.

Due to security concerns and the large number of expected guests and dignitaries, this service is not open to the public. Watch the livestream here, or on the Cathedral’s Youtube Channel.

Envisioning World Mission – A Word from the Standing Commission on World Mission

Thursday, Jan. 23 

1 p.m. on Zoom



"Envisioning World Mission" will be the theme of this Mission Thursday event sponsored by the Global Episcopal Mission Network. The one-hour webinar is free and open to the public.



Presenting will be Emily Keniston, chair of the commission for the 2025-2027 triennium. Director of Faith Formation in the Diocese of Maine, Emily brings her experience of teaching in Tunisia for seven years and her current role as Global Mission Advocate for the diocese. She will review the work of the Standing Commission in the previous triennium and share the commission’s preliminary planning for the next triennium. The new commission has had its first two meetings in November and January.

Restoration Laos: Restoring Hope, Restoring Safety

A Night of Conversation with the Rev. Canon Michael Ambler

Thursday, Jan. 23

7 - 8 p.m. on Zoom

All are welcome to learn how a community of people in Maine has partnered with the Mines Advisory Group, Mine Action Team 53 in Laos to accelerate the mission to find and destroy lethal bombs in the most remote and poorest areas of Laos still devastated fifty years after the conclusion of the Vietnam War. 

Hosted by SpiritBound Faith, a Digital Mission in the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire.  Learn more about Restoration Laos here. Register on Zoom.

The Crisis in Israel and Palestine: An Interactive Diologue with Episcopal Peace Fellowship

Sunday, Jan. 26, after the 9:30 service (about 10:45)

Grace Church, Bath

This free and open-to-the-public conversation will be led by Wendy Love, MD, who has served with two medical missions to the West Bank, and has traveled through the region on peacekeeping missions, and Rich Pitre, who has worked with Palestinian refugees in the Holy Land and is a member of the National Executive Council of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship. Coffee and refreshments will be served. Download the poster here.

Episcopal Communicators Webinar: Website Essentials

Tuesday, Jan. 28, 3 p.m. on Zoom

Websites are essential for spreading the good news in the 21st century. They are the information hub and offer insights into your community, ministries, services, and more. Does yours present an accurate picture of your congregation or ministry?



In this webinar, Laurel Way, director of communications and information technology for the Diocese of Arizona, will leads participants through the crucial elements and foundations of church/diocesan/organization websites. Learn about (or get a refresher on) building an effective, informative and eye-catching website in this ever-changing digital landscape. This webinar is free to members; cost to non-members is $25. 

Have Your Say: Teen / Tween Forum and Retreat

Feb. 7 - 9 

Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center, Greenfield, NH

Registration is open for Have Your Say 2025, a forum-style retreat open to middle and high school students from Maine and New Hampshire. This year attendees will explore the theme "Who Do You Say That I Am?" through art, conversation, and connection. It will be lots of fun! This event is "pay as you're able," which means households will choose if and how much they can contribute to making the event possible. Carpooling is available.

40 Days of Welcome and Gratitude: Lent and Holy Week Resources for 2025

It's not too early to start planning for Lent! Our website offers a variety of resources, including United Thank Offering's new partnership with Episcopal Migration Ministries, "40 Days of Welcome and Gratitude: a call to giving thanks for the ways we are welcomed in the world and the ways that people offer welcome to us and to our communities." Download free resources for families, sign up for the daily text message prompt, or order a free kit of printed materials for families. Kits can be ordered through Feb. 18. Find this and other Lent and Holy Week resources here. 

St. Ann's Episcopal Church and Faith Lutheran Church in Windham seek a full-time rector to serve both parishes. The churches have been informally collaborating and working together for several years and entered into a formal clergy sharing position just over a year ago. Both churches are deeply rooted in the community, welcoming to all, and involved in several outreach opportunities. The congregations have dedicated long term members and are hoping to grow through faith formation, continued collaboration, and with the help of a compassionate, encouraging, and creative clergy person. Learn more here.

Trinity Episcopal Church in Portland is seeking a part-time Director of Children and Youth Music. The music director performs a combination of music, project, and operational support work. This position is responsible for engaging pre-school through high-school aged children and youth through diverse and cultural music and teachings, as well as for the development, leading, and enhancing the children and youth’s music program at Trinity in collaboration with the broader community. For more information, or to apply, contact the Rev. Peter Swarr.

Is your church hiring? Would you like us to share the job description? If so, let us know!

See the full events calendar here.

See the bishop's visitation schedule here. 

• Jan. 20, Diocesan Offices Closed for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• Jan. 26, Bishop's Visitation, St. Matthew's, Lisbon Falls
• Jan. 27 - 30, Come Away Together: Forma and Province I Conference
• Feb. 2, Bishop's Visitation, St. Thomas', Winn
• Feb. 7 - 9, Have Your Say, Teen/Tween Retreat, Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center, NH
• Feb. 9, Bishop's Visitation, St. Ann's, Windham
• Feb. 23, Bishop's Visitation, St. Paul's, Brunswick
• March 2, Bishop's Visitation, Grace Church, Bath
• March 9, Bishop's Visitation, St. Patrick's, Brewer
• March 13, Lenten Clergy Quiet Day, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Zoom
• April 8, Chrism Eucharist at St. Mary's, Falmouth, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
• May 4 - 6, Spring Clergy Conference

Do you have a story to submit to The Dio Log? Did someone forward you this newsletter? Join our community and help us share the good news!